WEBVTT TONIGHT, THE TEAM IS ALSO HOPINGFOR A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT NEXTMONTH.MIKE: SEVEN YEARS AGO, SARAHCHAMBERS WAS HOMELESS ANDADDICTED TO DRUGS IN ALCOHOL.TODAY, SHE IS A SOBER, ITEMPLOYED IN HAVING DINNER WITHTHE SACRAMENTO SC.THE TEAM HAS PARTNERED WITHSTREET SOCCER USA TO TRANSFORMLIVES THROUGH TEAM SPORTS.>> I LEARNED HOW TO BE A TEAMPLAYER, TO SHOW UP, TO BE PARTOF A TEAM AND A COMMUNITY.I GOT TO TRAVEL TO THE U.S. ANDIN 2012, I GOT TO GO TO MEXICOCITY.MIKE: THE TRANSFORMATION THROUGHSOCCER AND THE CONCEPT OFTEAMWORK ALSO CHANGED THIS WOMANCOME HERE WITH HER FAMILY.>> I DID NOT HAVE A PLACE TO SAY-- DAY, I WAS IN AN ABUSIVERELATIONSHIP YOU'D MIGHT: -- MIKE: NOW SHE HAS A PLACE TOLIVE.THEY ARE HELPING OTHERS BUT ALSOFOCUSING ON THE TEAM'S NEXTGOALS.SACRAMENTO IS ONE OF 12 CITIESUNDER CONSIDERATION FOR ANEXPANSION FRANCHI FOR MAJORLEAGUE SOCCER APPEARED SOCCERINSIDER SAY SACRAMENTO IS ONE OFFOUR CITIES SAID TO BE FAVORED.AND THE TEAM PRESIDENT LIKES HISCHANCES GOOD -- CHANCES.>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW PEOPLEHAVE SUPPOED AS AN ARECROWD, I HAVE A HARD TIMEBELIEVING ANALYSTS WOULD NOT BEEXCITED ABOUT THAT.MIKE: THIS CELEBRATION TO BE THEFIRST OF MANY FOR THE SACRAMENTOFC, A TEAM HOPING TO LEARN INMID-DECEMBER ABOUT POSSIBLYLANDING A MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCERFRANCHISE.

Seven years ago, Sarah Chambers was homeless and addicted to drugs and alcohol. Today, she is sober, employed and having Thanksgiving dinner with the Sacramento Republic FC, the city’s professional soccer club.

The team has partnered with Street Soccer USA to transform lives through team sports.

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“Through Street Soccer I learned how to be a team player," Chambers said. “I learned how to show up. I got to be a part of a team in a community. I got to travel the U.S., and, in 2012, I got to go to the homeless World Cup in Mexico City.”

The transformation through soccer also changed Unique Torres, who was also eating Thanksgiving turkey on Sunday with her family, thanks to the generosity of the Sacramento Republic FC.

“When I first started with the program, I was homeless,” Torres said. “I didn't have a place to stay. I left an abusive relationship.”

That was three years ago.

Today, Unique Torres is working and has a safe place to live with her children.

Sunday’s Thanksgiving dinner was an opportunity for the Sacramento Republic FC to help others in the community – but also to focus on the team’s next goal.

Sacramento is one of 12 cities now under consideration for an expansion franchise from Major League Soccer.

Soccer insiders have said that Sacramento is actually one of four cities considered to be favorites for expansion, which will ultimately be awarded to two cities. The others in serious contention are Detroit, Nashville and Cincinnati.

Warren Smith, president of the Sacramento Republic FC, told KCRA 3 he likes his team’s chances of being selected.

“People have really supported us,” Smith said. “And you look at our crowds. I'd have a hard time believing MLS wouldn't be excited about that.”

Major League Soccer’s Board of Governors is expected to announce the two winning cities for expansion following a meeting in New York on Dec. 14.